One other thing: the original article was about what's really a routing issue - when they went to Plan B to avoid a couple of high-value issues it turned out to be too steep. Hello - that's why UP (previously SP) has a loop on the Tehachapi line and why they ran through Mojave in the first place: acceptable grade for the hill. It wasn't easy finding that route, especially with technologies of the late 1800s. HSR may have to look around a bit more (and probably end up spending more money) to miss the cement plant and the "dry" lake/wetlands since the easy route is already occupied by a railroad and a highway. Sucks to be the last one coming to town ... ask WP or ATSF, or in some cases even Caltrans.

BTW, the article also provides one of the more succinct explanations for why the Palmdale route is still preferred. It has little to do with engineering difficulty, apparently. So what else is new.